Gemsbok

Gemsbok - Oryx gazella

	Bull	Cow
Mass (adult)	± 240 kg	± 210 kg
Shoulder height	± 120 cm	± 120 cm
Life expectancy	± 19 years	± 19 years

Trophy Records
	Minimum	Record
Rowland Ward	40"	49 -1/2" a cow shot in 1912
SCI	88"	111 -5/8" shot in 1981
SCI Bowhunting	78"	98 -1/8" shot in 1993

Identification
	This large, heavily built antelope has a thick neck, long rapier-like horns in both sexes and a black, horse-like tail. The overall body colour is greyish-fawn and the under parts are white. Black features prominently in the body markings as stripes along the flanks, as patches on the upper legs and rump, and as a stripe down the throat. The lower legs are predominantly white. The black and white facial markings are very distinctive. The calves are plain fawn and lack body markings. The males are slightly heavier than the females and the horns are thicker and usually shorter.
Habitat
	The Gemsbok is a species of open, dry terrain, including open woodland, grass plains and sand dunes. Although they will drink, surface water is not essential.
Habits
	Herds of up to 15 animals are common but much larger groups come together, particularly during rains. Mixed herds may be observed, as well as nursery herds consisting only of calves and cows. Bulls holding territories will attempt to keep herds within their area and only they will mate with receptive cows. Territorial males are very tolerant of other males and often accompany mixed herds. They mark their territories by horning and scratching the ground and defecating in a squatting position so that the dung lies in a heap to retain the smell longer. Because of the arid nature of the environment in which Gemsbok live, they are nomadic and may move considerable distances in search of new grazing.
Food
	Grasses form much of their food intake but they also dig out roots and eat wild fruits e.g. tsammas, succulent rhizomes and tubers. It digs for water in the sand at times.
Vocalisation
	The Gemsbok bellows like cattle.
Breeding
	A single young is born anytime during the year after a gestation period of ± 9 months. Calves are born mostly during the rains. Cows have 2 pairs of groin mammae.